Jennifer Lopez Talks Fighting Latina Stereotypes in Hollywood

Jennifer Lopez is opening up about fighting Latina stereotypes during the early days of her career.

“There’s so many different people living their stories [in America],” Lopez, 55, said during the Thursday, November 28, episode of the “Variety Awards Circuit” podcast. “That was always my goal as an actor, as a producer, was to kind of break the mold of just playing the Latina, playing just the maid or just the housekeeper or just the person who worked in the store. Whatever it was, those kind of stereotypes, and break the stereotypes. But also to be the people starring in the film.”

Lopez claimed that there “weren’t a lot of roles for Latinas” when she began. “I was auditioning for parts with accents and stereotypes. I kept thinking, ‘Why can’t I just play a romantic lead? Why can’t I be the girl next door?’” she continued, per Variety. “That belief — that conviction that I belonged — was what helped me break those molds.”

Lopez, who grew up in the Bronx with Puerto Rican parents, recalled struggling to fit in and not feeling like she belonged in certain situations.

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“When you come from really not a lot and you grew up in the neighborhoods we grew up in, you think you don’t belong in certain places or you don’t belong in certain rooms,” she said. “I always find it’s the inner voice. It’s kind of really being in tune with that inner voice and what you’re telling yourself, which is the most important thing. And sometimes that could be your mom and dad’s voice in your head, and then at some point it’s your responsibility to replace that voice with your own strong voice. That says, ‘I can do this. I do belong here. I am good enough. I am doing the right things. I do work hard. I am talented.’”

“And it’s hard because you have a lot of people telling you you’re not all the time, especially if you choose a career like this, where a lot of this is subjective,” she continued.

Lopez’s most recent movie, Unstoppable, chronicles the journey of one-legged wrestler Anthony Robles, who won the national championship in 2011. In the autobiographical documentary, Lopez plays the mother of Robles, Judy.

“I really identified with her. I really understood her, where she was coming from,” Lopez told the outlet. “As far as the struggles she had went through, I understood the upbringing that they had. I understood, like I said, challenging relationships. Wanting to make things work, having kids. Trying to be the best mom you can be, being a great mom. She is a great mom. Still finding her way to herself later in life, right? Because she was forced to be a grownup too soon.”